WASHINGTON — Caught on an open mic as she was getting ready to go on CNN Wednesday, California's new Republican senatorial nominee, Carly Fiorina, may have set a new record for most catty remarks per minute.

Boxer's hairstyle, Fiorina laughed, is "so yesterday." But here's what's so yesterday: Fiorina's whole "Mean Girls" approach to female competition. Even as commentators across the country were saluting Fiorina as part of the unprecedented wave of female Republican candidates who'd prevailed at the polls on Tuesday night, she was behaving like a throwback, criticizing both her opponent's looks and her own party's gubernatorial nominee's judgment in terms that were far less attractive than a mere bad hair day.

As a makeup artist prepared her for an appearance on Sacramento's KXTV-TV Wednesday morning, Fiorina repeatedly second-guessed Whitman's decision to go on one of the most popular cable shows on the air, and be interviewed by a host beloved by conservatives:

"I find it really surprising that on the first day of the general, Meg Whitman is going on Sean Hannity. Did you hear that? I think it's bizarre — I mean, she's never been on Sean Hannity. I think it's a very bad choice, actually. You know how he is. Yeah, anyway, that's what they said...Why, after saying no to all these people, would you go on Sean Hannity? That's not the one you would do. Sean Hannity is not an easy interview. You know?" (Unlike the witless tool who was about to interview Fiorina on the first day of the general? Ouch.)

Checking her BlackBerry, she read an e-mail from a supporter: "Just watched you on Fox, blah, blah, blah. Wow, people are up early." Though "I didn't eat last night," those with her were sure "wolfing down cheeseburgers," she reported and "eating, eating."

Finally, she referred to her competition as "Failedsenator.com. Hello, Barbara'' — then mentioned someone who "saw Barbara Boxer briefly on television this morning and said what everyone says, 'God, what is that hair?'"

"So yesterday," said the woman being hailed around the country as a new brand of feminist.